Japan’s anime pilgrimage map is expanding faster than the cast of a shōnen battle anime. From a fully realised Ghibli Park to a 17-metre Gundam looming over Expo 2025 Osaka, 2025 is the perfect year to plan an otaku grand tour. This guide distils the must-see spots and souvenir strategies you’ll wish you’d known before landing at Narita.
Quick Picks for 2025
Before we dive deep, here are the hottest stops and what makes them unmissable.
- Akihabara, Tokyo: ever-renewing figure shops, pop-up cafés and tax-free electronics
- Ghibli Park, Aichi: new Valley of Witches zone plus rare night openings (2, 9, 16 Aug)
- Universal Studios Japan, Osaka: The Apothecary Diaries super-real walk-through (1 Jul 2025 – 4 Jan 2026)
- Nijigen no Mori, Awaji Island: 1.2 km Demon Slayer Night Walk (15 Mar – 14 Dec 2025)
- AnimeJapan 2025, Tokyo Big Sight: the world’s largest anime convention (22 – 25 Mar)
- Gundam Next Future Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka: life-size Gundam, with limited edition Gunpla on sale (13 Apr – 13 Oct)
Akihabara: Tokyo’s Evolving Otaku Hub
Tokyo’s Electric Town is in a constant state of reinvention, so even repeat visitors will discover something new.
Flagship Stores & Pop-Ups
The rebuilt eight-floor Animate Akihabara anchors the district, while Kotobukiya rotates premium statue exhibitions monthly. For example, thisJuly spotlights Jujutsu Kaisen. Keep an eye on Akiba UDX pop-ups announced roughly two weeks ahead of time on X (Twitter).
Treasure-Hunt Basements
Head downstairs at Mandarake Complex or Suruga-ya for out-of-print artbooks at roughly 50% of the cover price. Grading labels “A/B” are trustworthy, but you can inspect shrink-wrapped items at the register if you are unsure.
Smart Shopping Tactics
Arrive by 10:00 to beat the gacha queues, carry your passport for tax-free savings for single purchases over ¥5,000, and rent coin lockers inside JR Akihabara Station (¥400–¥800) to avoid lugging figure boxes around all day.
Ghibli Park, Aichi: The Dream Completed
With the March 2024 openingof the Valley of Witches, Ghibli Park now spans five immersive areas that feel pulled straight from Hayao Miyazaki’s storyboards.
Valley of Witches by Day and Night
For the first time ever, select zones (including the Valley) will stay open until 20:00 on 2, 9 and 16 August 2025, bathing Howl’s Castle and Kiki’s Bakery in lantern light. Reserve timed tickets from 10 June via Lawson or Klook, as same-day sales are virtually impossible.
Getting There
Ride the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi from Tokyo to Nagoya (40m, ¥11,300), then hop the Higashiyama Subway to Fujigaoka and the Linimo to Aichi Expo Park. Total: about 1h50 min.
Limited-Edition Souvenirs
Hunt for 2025-only Valley enamel pins and Howl’s Castle butter cookies (¥1,800). The Grand Warehouse restocks at 13:00 daily, so plan your stroll accordingly.
Universal Studios Japan: Anime Meets Hollywood Scale
Universal Cool Japan celebrates its 10th anniversary by thrusting visitors into The Apothecary Diaries from July to early January 2026.
Step Inside Maomao’s World
The walk-through mixes live sets and projection mapping, and you can join a potion-making escape game for a time-locked challenge for an extra ¥3,500. An AR photo op lets you pose with Jinshi inside a palace corridor.
Must-Grab Merchandise
The 40cm Maomao plush and chrysanthemum-themed treats are capped at two per guest, but you should still makes sure tobuy before 14:00 or risk a “sold-out” sign.
Bonus Stop: Den Den Town
Only 15 minutes away via the Osaka Loop Line, Nipponbashi’s retro arcades and second-hand stores can shave 30% off of figure prices compared with park shops.
Nijigen no Mori, Awaji Island: Demon Slayer in the Wild
This forested theme park turns coastal woodlands into anime stages.
Night Walk: Path to Mugen Castle
A 1.2km trail lit by projection-mapped Upper Rank battles culminates at a life-size Infinity Castle facade. Make sure to wear sneakers, and be aware that sea breezes can drop temperatures after dusk.
Daytime Quests and Dining
QR-code puzzle hunts award acrylic stands (¥1,200), while the dining hall grills Tanjiro-inspired charcoal rice balls.
Stay Under the Wisteria
Demon Slayer-themed glamping domes (from ¥28,000 per person) book out three months in advancefor summer weekends, so if you want to stay in one, make sure to make your reservation early.
Beyond the Big Four: Nationwide Stores and Events
Japan’s anime economy never sleeps, so here are some extras to addyour itinerary.
Specialty Mega-Stores
- Pokémon Center Shibuya drops ’50s-diner-style merch from 5 July 2025 (with an entry lottery on launch day).
- Pokémon Wonder (Yomiuri Land) is extending its outdoor scavenger hunt to 30 September.
- Animate Yokohama Vivre now dedicates an entire floor to BL titles, while Jump Shop Hiroshima is offering Haikyuu!! final-season exclusives (Aug–Oct).
Anime EventsYou Can’t Miss
- Expo 2025 Osaka’s Gundam Pavilion (13 Apr–13 Oct) showcases a 17m statue built from the parts of the Yokohama moving Gundam, and offers twice-daily Gunpla workshops.
- KYOMAF (Kyoto, 20–21 Sep) pairs ¥2,000 admission with same-day Kyoto Animation studio tours by lottery.
Money-Saving Tips
If you have your passport in hand, and spend over ¥5,000 at duty-free shops, you canreclaim the consumption tax, though food and cosmetics must remain sealed until you exit Japan. Second-hand chains such as Suruga-ya price “A-rank” figures at around 60% of MSRP. High-demand goods, such asPokémon plushies or Ghibli art prints, often use online lotteries, soapply early, and remember you may need to upload passport details as proof.
Pack Your Suitcase — And Your Itinery
Whether you’re navigating Akihabara’s neon labyrinth or strolling lantern-lit Ghibli streets, 2025’s anime attractions reward foresight. Book tickets as soon as windows open, travel light, and keep timed lotteries on your radar. Do that, and you’ll leave Japan not just with exclusive plushies and Gunpla, but with memories epic enough for their own anime arc.
Information is current as of July 2025. Always confirm latest details on official websites before finalizing plans.
